Katy Upperman, Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott and Alison Miller had the great idea to organize the CLASS OF 2012: YA SUPERLATIVES BLOGFEST! Don´t hesitate to check their blogs for all the links…
The choices were tough (see all the wonderful books I´ve read this year?)…so yep…hmmm sometimes there may be more than one…Today I am proud to present HEAD OF CLASS.
Favorite Dystopian
INSURGENT by Veronica Roth – I had no issue getting back into that world. And cannot wait to see what happens next.
Favorite Science Fiction
A MILLION SUNS by Beth Revis – I loved, loved, loved that one. The ship becomes another character for me, and the way the entire cast is developed is just brilliant in my view. I even found this one a tad better than the first book of this trilogy (and I already couldn´t put it down :P)
Favorite Contemporary
Okay I´m sorry but I´ve read way too many contemporaries to play favorite. Can I go with 3—in no particular order?
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For the way the story touched my heart, made me cry, made me hope: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green. I’ve read this book while spending a few days at my Mother-in-law’s. And I think she still wonders why I cried so much reading a novel. For my full review, and for all the reasons why I think this heartbreaking book is also a book full of love and hope, see here.
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For the way the romance made my heart beat faster, and the secondary cast of characters: MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick. And to share the love, I had decided to hold a giveaway for that book back in July, I also thought I’d ask the author if maybe she would be interested in doing an interview. I was so happy when she said yes! And even included a signed copy of the book as giveaway! 😀 (Happy Friday – Interview and giveaway)
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For the way it made me think: BUTTER by Erin Jade Lange and TRAFFICKED by Kim Purcell
And many more…really…my list of YA contemporary was like WOW this year!
Favorite Historical Fiction
Favorite Mystery
Favorite Romance
So, here again, I cannot keep it at only one, and I am restricting myself.
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Sweet romance: MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick
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Most interesting contemporary setting for romance: THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Jennifer E. Smith
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Steamiest (technically not YA but wow steamy): LOSING IT by Cora Cormack
Favorite Paranormal/Favorite Fantasy/Favorite Genre Bender
THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater – Maggie has a magical way with words, and a magical way to pull the reader inside her story. Loved it.
Favorite Family Drama
THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers. As I wrote in my review of this book back in August, Sloane is a tortured character and whose pain rages through the pages, gripping and sad. The drama with her family broke my heart. It´s definitely not the type of drama easy to resolve in normal circumstances, so if you throw zombies into the mix? You get an unforgettable story, exploring the weaknesses, strenghts of each character.
So, tell me who was Head of Class for you this year?
Elodie Nowodazkij 
I think I need to borrow your contemporary list. I didn’t read any contemporaries this year–I stuck mostly to science fiction and fantasy. Though we did have Insurgent and This Is Not a Test in common. 🙂
Oooh, Butter was one of my most anticipated books of the year and SOMEHOW I haven’t gotten to it yet! I’m dying to read it. And now I have to add My Life Next Door, too—that one sounds awesome!
In making my list I realized that I didn’t read a lot of romance this year–I’m going to take some recommendations from your picks!
THE RAVEN BOYS was one of my favorites, too. What a wonderful book!
We have some similar titles on our lists. 🙂 I have LOSING IT sitting on my Kindle right now. Just finished EASY and I figure that one is in the same vein. I’m still waiting for the right moment to get into TFIOS. Sigh. I know that one’s going to be a tough one to read.
I might have to check out Butter! Ah the setting of the ‘statistical probability – I enjoyed, on the plane and in London ! I was half tempted to check out the places in it and see if they existed!
I give you a lot of credit for getting me into contemporary this year, especially MY LIFE NEXT DOOR! Great list. I’m going through making sure everything I haven’t read is marked as “want to read” in Goodreads–very helpful when I’m at the bookstore!
Ah, I am so CONVINCED to read This is Not A Test now. I keep seeing it on people’s lists and it sounds like a great read! 🙂
Totally agree with you about The Raven Boys. It fits in so many categories; I had a hard time just slotting it in one. I wanted to squee about it over and over again!
I agree with you about the Godspeed seeming like a character unto itself in Beth Revis’ AtU trilogy, so I really wonder what the 3rd book is going to be like where the ship seems like it’ll play a much smaller part.
I keep seeing THIS IS NOT A TEST pop up on all these lists. I so have to pick that one up!
I just picked up MY LIFE NEXT DOOR when I was out shopping today because I saw it on so many lists.
Some of those I’ve read, and some I’ve missed. Thanks for the great recommendations!!
Wow! Your reading list is IMPRESSIVE! And I must, must, must read MY LIFE NEXT DOOR. I’ve heard so many good things!
Oh, we have some definite overlap. Because we both have excellent taste in books, obviously! I haven’t read TRAFFICKED or BUTTER, but I’m intrigued by both. I’ll have to check them out!
Great choices, lady!
Hooray for MY LIFE NEXT DOOR and GILT! And TEN, RAVEN BOYS, and THIS IS NOT A TEST are all on my must-read list, especially after how many Superlatives they’ve earned today!
I’m with Liz on the contemporary thing, I only read two of the ones that came out this year because I was so busy with the fantasy and sci fi 🙂
The Raven Boys definitely is one of my favourite books this year and it’s thanks to you I read it 🙂 Thanks for recommending it!